Harry Potter Cast Shooting New Footage for Wizarding World Expansion at Universal Studios

Helena Bonham Carter among those taking part in the theme park production.

by: Eric Goldman

December 11, 2012

Cast members from the Harry Potter films have reassembled to shoot new footage for the expansion to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando Resort, reports The Sun.

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The Sun’s unnamed source says, “The cast have really enjoyed getting back together — they are so tight-knit. The shooting schedule is nowhere near as long as the films, so though filming has been intense, the stars have enjoyed being able to pop in and out.”

The one cast member specifically listed as returning by the Sun is Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange, though it’s clear she’s not the only one. It remains to be seen whether the central trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson would be part of this new material, having previously filmed footage (shot while the films were still in production) that is part of the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Since it was announced that there would be an expansion to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal and Warner Bros. have stayed quiet on details. However, I was just at Universal Orlando last week where construction on the expansion is quite visible at the Universal Studios Florida park, with numerous reports saying the plan is for the expansion to connect to the original section (at the adjacent Islands of Adventure Park) via a Hogwarts Express train ride.

It is also widely believed that the expansion will consist of a Diagon Alley area (the original portion is set in Hogsmeade Village), with the centerpiece being a Gringotts Bank cart ride, based off of the Gringotts sequence in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. It's unclear whether the cast footage currently being shot would be incorporated into the Gringotts ride, the Hogwarts Express or both.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is also coming to Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood, so it’s likely this new footage will also be used there as well.